rattler
part of speech
noun (a rattler, rattlers) — informal
meaning for a pupil
1) (informal, US) A rattlesnake: a poisonous snake in the Americas that shakes the rattle on its tail to warn you. tree →
2) Something that rattles, like a baby's rattle or a noisy old car or train. tree →
3) (old, Australia/UK slang) A train, especially an old rattling one. tree →
4) (informal, old) An excellent or very lively thing: «a rattler of a story». tree →
sense in the lessons
In nature and safety lessons in the USA and Canada rattlers warn with a buzzing tail; stay back. In stories and westerns rattlers hide in rocks. Phrases: «a western diamondback rattler», «watch out for rattlers».
examples
- The hiker froze when she heard the rattler's buzz. tree →
- Rattlers live in deserts and dry hills in the USA. tree →
- If you hear a rattler, back away slowly. tree →
- The old bus was a real rattler on the bumpy road. tree →
- Grandpa called the steam train «the old rattler». tree →
- A rattler shakes its tail to say «Keep away!» tree →
note
Countable: rattler, rattlers. Informal; the proper name is rattlesnake. Safety: rattlesnake bites need hospital help at once; call 911 and keep the person still. Rattlesnakes live only in the Americas, not in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «rattler» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.